Mary Lou Retton apologizes after DUI arrest in West Virginia
Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton apologized for her recent DUI arrest in West Virginia and was ordered to pay a $100 fine.
Retton appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded no contest in connection with her May 17 arrest in Fairmont, W. Va.
Her attorney Edmund J. Rollo said in a statement that the fine was consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time, similar offenses.
“What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses,” Retton said in a statement. “To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry. I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support.”
Fairmont police stopped Retton after receiving a complaint about a person in a Porsche driving erratically. Retton smelled of alcohol and was slurring her words, according to a criminal complaint. She failed a field sobriety test, and officers reported observing a container of wine in the passenger seat.
Retton, 57, a gymnast, won a gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
She is a native of of Fairmont, which is located in Marion County.
Haley Moreland is a TribLive staff writer. You can reach Haley at hmoreland@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.